Henhouse poultry release



july 1X 1924.

B. J. ROBINSON HENHoUsE POULTRY RELEASE 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April llv `uly 1924.

B. J. ROBINSON HENHOUSE POULTRY RELEASE Filed April ll 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented duly l, i924u BANNER il'. ROBINSON. 0F ERARIEVILLE. MICHIGAN'.

HENHOUSE POULTR-Y Application filed. April 11.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that BANNER J. ltoerNsoNs a citizen of the United States of America. residing at Prairieville, in the county of Barry and State of Michigan, has invented new and useful Improvements in Henhouse Poultry Releases, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide simple means actuable by the fowls or poultry for opening a henhouse to release the stool; in the morning and while providing for the locking of the house against entry from the outside during the night as a protection against marauders; and with this object in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View of an exit controlling door operating means embodying the invention applied in the operative position to a henhouse or similar shelter.

'Figure 2 is an end view of the trip.

Figure 3 is a detail view in section of the door locking means.

Figure 4 is an enlarged View of the bolt.

Figure 5 is a view of the connection between the trip and t--e door release.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the door or closure 10 by which the exit opening 11 from the henhouse 12 is controlled. is mounted for sliding movement in suitable guides 13 and is yieldingly actuable to an open position by a spring 14 or its equivalent.

In order to retain the door in its closed position as during the night and when it is desired to protect the occupants of the house, there is employed a bolt 15 having a beveled nose 16 for engagement with an opening 17 in the door, said bolt being actuable by a spring 18 serving to yieldingly hold it in its door` engaging position.

The actuating means for the bolt, serving to permit of the disengagement thereof from the door in the morning, for the purpose of releasing the poultry, includes a trip plat- 1922. Serial No. 551,530.

form or perch 19 disposed adjacent to a feed boX 2() having arms 21 and 22 which are pivotally mounted as indicated at 23, the arm 21 having a pin and slot connection 24 with a rocking lever 25 which in turn is flexibly connected as by means of a cord 26 passing around suitable direction pulleys 27 with the eye 28 in the end of the locking bolt. The arm 22 of the trip platform or perch 19 is adapted to be counterweighted or yieldingly held in a position to maintain the platform in a slightly elevated position subject to depression by the weight of a fowl imposed thereon and in the construction illustrated the counterweighting is effected by means of a spring 27.

In practice the imposition of the weight of a fowl attempting to gain access to the feed boX or supply serves to depress the platform and thereby actuate the locking bolt to release the door or closure and permit of its opening movement under the impulse of the actuating spring or equivalent means serving to effect the withdrawal thereof to expose the eXit, so that the fowls confined and protected during the night are liberated at an early hour for exercise and feeding purposes.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is A poultry release for henhouses and the like having a door yieldingly supported normally in its open position, a yieldable locking means for retaining the door in its closed position. a feed boX, a perch having arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said feed box. one of said arms being counterweighted to counterbalanoe the weight of the perch?, a rocking lever pivotally mounted on the feed box and having a pin and slot connection with the other arm, and flexible connections between the rocking lever and the locking means, whereby depression of the perch may release the locking means for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof he aiiixes his signature.

BANNER J. ROBINSON. 

